Baltimore School board member resigns after FBI raid, his nonprofit got $1M in COVID funds

Hunt Valley, Md. (WBFF) — A Fox45 News investigation is raising serious questions regarding a former member of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners who abruptly resigned this week.

Mujahid Muhammad was appointed to the school board in 2023 by Mayor Brandon Scott. Muhammad also runs the nonprofit KEYS Empowers, whose headquarters were searched by the FBI this week, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Now, Project Baltimore has learned KEYS Empowers received one million dollars in federal Covid-19 money in 2022 to help build a community center that has yet to open.

On Wednesday, September 30, Muhammad, abruptly resigned as a member of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners after the FBI conducted a “court-authorized law enforcement” search on Liberty Road, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (WBFF)

“The 990s of this organization are extremely suspicious,” said Parker Thayer, who is with The Capital Research Center, a nonprofit organization that focuses on how other nonprofits spend money.

Parker is responding to what Project Baltimore found in federal nonprofit filings, known as 990s, for the Baltimore based organization, KEYS Empowers.

“I’ve seen 990 like this before,” said Thayer. “It never ends well.”

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KEYS Empowers is operated by Muhammad. On Wednesday, September 30, Muhammad, abruptly resigned as a member of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners after the FBI conducted a “court-authorized law enforcement” search on Liberty Road, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

KEYS Empowers is headquartered on Liberty Road.

“There is pretty much every red flag you could imagine on this 990,” stated Thayer.

According to KEYS Empowers’ 990s, it’s mission is to “see the great city of Baltimore transformed through investments in youth” by providing “social support”, “guidance” and “conflict resolution skills.”

The FBI conducted a “court-authorized law enforcement” search on Liberty Road, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (WBFF)

In 2019, KEYS Empowers reported revenue of $195,378. One year later, the non-profit reported $655,189 in revenue. In 2021 and 2022, no revenue was reported. But then, in 2023, KEYS reported revenue surged to $2,710,468. In 2024, KEYS reported $2,001,754 in revenue.

Where did that money come from according to federal filings – contributions and government grants.

According to a 2022 press release from Mayor Brandon Scott’s office, KEYS Empowers received $1,000,000 in federal COVID money from the American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA. The ARPA money was intended to help build the KEYS Community Healing Village on the 1500 block of Ashburton Road in west Baltimore. Mayor Scott and Muhammad spoke at the groundbreaking in 2022.

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“The goal of today is recognizing where we come from, and actualizing the dream of where we are going,” Muhammad said during the groundbreaking.

“I come here today to not just congratulate the brothers from KEYS. But to say thank you – for believing in the future of Baltimore City,” Scott added.

Nonprofit KEYS Empowers revenue reports from 2019-2024 (WBFF)

That groundbreaking was four years ago, the site today is still under construction, even though the sign at the property says, ‘Coming 2025”.

The FBI has not yet disclosed the nature or focus of its investigation into Keys Empowers. But Thayer says he has seen situations like this play out before. And if KEYS Empowers 990s tell us anything, it’s that there are serious questions to be answered.

“There will have to be a full investigation, and everyone is presumed innocent. But so far, I think some of this money might have gone to the wrong pockets,” said Thayer.

Project Baltimore reached out to Baltimore City Schools for a comment on Muhammad’s resignation. The district replied, “it would not be appropriate for the Board to comment further on an ongoing investigation.”

Attempts to contact Muhammad were not successful.

Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to cjpapst@sbgtv.com